GOP congressional candidate Bryan Smith holds rally

With the primary election for Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District a week away, Republican candidate Bryan Smith held a rally in Idaho Falls Tuesday evening.

Smith, an Idaho Falls lawyer, is taking on eight-term incumbent Mike Simpson in Idaho’s GOP primary.

There are rumblings that Smith may have lost financial support from his campaign’s biggest contributor Club for Growth. The Political Action Committee backs congressional candidates who believe in pro-growth policies and limited government.

Club for Growth had been backing Smith since July 2013, contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bryan Smith for Congress. The Wall Street Journal recently pointed out the PAC’s cut in spending to the campaign over the past two weeks, indicating it may have given up on Smith’s campaign. Club for Growth responded, saying they’re constantly shifting money to races all over the country.

Smith didn’t confirm or deny the cut in contributions.

“I can’t tell you what other groups are doing, I know I have endorsements of several national groups and these groups show that I’m the true conservative in the race,” said Smith. “What I can tell you is what we’re doing, and we continue to take our message of lower spending, smaller government, and smaller taxes across the state.”

Smith said he’s getting the message out on his stance on illegal immigration, and more specifically amnesty, because it’s resonating with voters. He also said it was touched on in a “kind of debate” Tuesday morning in Boise.

“Congressman Simpson, today in a conversation I had with him, acknowledged that he did, in fact, vote in 2002 for an amnesty provision,” said Smith. “I’m against providing amnesty.”

Just moments after a federal judge ruled Idaho’s ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional, Smith responded.

“Well, I can tell you I am for traditional marriage and I have not had a chance to even look at what that issue is in Idaho from tonight,” said Smith.

Smith added he feels fantastic about the progress his campaign has made, and that he “can’t wait to make history in Idaho next Tuesday.”